Ensley said about half of the voters who cast ballots at her office in advance of the Aug. 1 primary election used an electronic touch-screen machine, while about half opted for the traditional paper ballots. The number of people using touch-screen machines and paper ballots at county polling places also were about equal on the Aug. 1 election day, she said.

But Ensley said Friday that paper ballot users are outnumbering touch-screen users about 2 to 1 among those who have cast advance general election ballots in person at her office, where that voting began on Oct. 24.

Ensley said many voters indicated media reports left them feeling concerned about the security of their ballot if they used a touch-screen machine.

Shawnee County this year obtained 180 of the touch-screen machines using $753,000 in federal money provided through the Help America Vote Act. The machines enable the visually impaired to vote without help and also are available to those who aren't visually impaired.

Ensley said the touch-screen machines don't leave a paper trail, although backup batteries are in place to ensure they don't lose information. An audit function allows officials to see who has worked on them, she said.

Ensley said she sought touch-screen machines that would leave a paper trail, but the federally provided money didn't cover the required extra expense of $63,000 and neither did the county commission.

The touch-screen voting machines worked well and caused no problems during the Aug. 1 primary election, Ensley said.

She said one touch-screen machine will be on hand Tuesday at each of the 156 voting sites in Shawnee County.

Voters also will be able to opt for the more traditional paper ballots, in which they fill in an oval next to their choice. Those ballots are run through an optical scanning machine that tabulates and prints the results on what resembles a receipt.

Voters may cast advance ballots in person through noon Monday at the election office, 911 S.W. 37th. The office will be closed today but opens at 8 a.m. Monday.

Ensley said anyone with election-related questions may call her office at (785) 266-0285.

Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh encouraged Kansans to go online to www.voteks.org, where he said they could learn the location of their polling place, track the progress of their ballot if they have voted in advance and send friends an electronic "V-Card" reminding them to vote.

Election results will be posted Tuesday evening on the county election office Web site at www.co.shawnee.ks.us/election/ and on the secretary of state's Web site at www.kssos.org.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (785) 295-1184 or tim.hrenchir@cjonline.com.